Hand guard for welding apparatus



March 30, 1948. J. J. SANDRIK HAND GUARD FOR WELDING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 30, 1948.

J. J. SANDRIK 2,438,792

HAND GUARD FOR WELDING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 five/7Z5 @2275 f 5627262 71723 A Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND GUARD FOR WELDING APPARATUS John J. Sandrik, Chicago, 111.

Application May 4, 1946, Serial No. 667,440

v Claims. 1

This invention relates to a hand guard or protector for shielding the hand of a person whose occupation requires that he be relatively close to extreme heat such as during a welding operation. More specifically, the invention relates to a hand guard or shield for use in connection with welding apparatus so that the splatter, sparks and hot metal, caused by the use of welding apparatus, will not come into contact with the welders hand.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel hand guard, shield or protector constructed and arranged in a particular manner so that when applied to the handle of a welding apparatus the operators hand is free to control the operating valves of the welding apparatus but at the same time is properly protected.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a new and novel hand shield or protector which is preferably made from a single piece of heat insulating material, particularly of a fibrous nature, whereby the fiat piece of material, after being out along certain preferred lines, is bent or forced into shape and then looked into the proper shape in any suitable manner such as by metal stitching, riveting or otherwise.

A further object of the invention resides in the particular shape, location and arrangement of the parts, the parts being so constructed that when arranged in the preferred form they will shield properly the operators hand, there being new and improved means to mount detachably the guard or shield on the handle portion of a welding apparatus.

Still another object of the invention resides in the formation, construction and arrangement of the parts so as to form in effect a gauntlet type shield or protector, inclining or flaring outwardly and upwardly from front to rear with a complete opening beneath the top shield portion so as to permit the operator to have full use of his hand and at the same time protect the hand against splatter, arcs and parts of hot metal, the shield or protector having secured thereto a new and improved locking means for locking detachably the shield or protector to the handle or other part of a welding apparatus.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspectiveview of the improved protector, guard or shield, the same being shown applied to the handle of a welding apparatus of conventional design.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspectiveview of the improved protector, guard or shield, and embodying the invention, the same having applied thereto a spring clip arrangement for fastening detachably the device to the handle of a welding apparatus of conventional design.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a blank from which the shield is made, the blank being configurated and out along certain lines and adapted to be folded to the forms disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 6 is an end reinforcing portion which is adapted to co-operate with the blank shown in 0 Fig. 5 for the purpose of reinforcing the forward end of the shield as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of another form of attaching clip which may be used in conjunction with the guard or shield.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the attaching clip, Fig. 7, applied on an inner wall of the shield or guard shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The particular shield l, guard or protector herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention is preferably made from a blank 2, Fig. 5, cut or stamped from a single sheet of insulating or fire resisting material.

The shield l, Figs. 1 to 3, is in the form of a gauntlet having a relatively straight front part 3 from which there extends a top portion 4 and side parts or elements 5 and 6. The part or side 5 extends downwardly a predetermined distance beyond the lower edge of the part 6 so as to pro tect that part of the operator's hand which is closest to the heat, and which is adapted to be moved for operating the control lever or switch of the welding apparatus.

The blank 2, Fig. 5, is cut to the desired shape and configuration, being slit along the lines I, Fig. 5, to provide a relatively triangular part 8. The blank 2 is also slit along the lines 9 to provide a relatively triangular portion ID. The parts H and I2, lying outwardly of the triangular parts 8 and iii, are provided with circular cutouts l3 and I4, respectively. The parts II and I2 are separated from the other parts by cutouts l5 and [6, respectively, providing a central portion ll of the front 3. The part I! is provided with a substantially circular cutout l8 which cooperates with the arcuate cutout parts l3 and l4 when the device is folded. The parts ll, 8 and I! are provided with fastener receiving openings I9, 20 and 2|, respectively, which are adapted to be brought into registering alignment to receive locking fasteners 22 to lock the parts in assembled relationship. The triangular part 8 is adapted to be arranged between the parts H and I! with the part I! extending exteriorly and for in the end wall. 3.. e as e i he m ans. 22, which may be metal; stitchi g" Qrrivets as, shown, locks the parts together and brings the arcuate cutout 13 into registration with an edge of the arcuate cutout l8, Fig. 5. The part H of the blank 2 is also provided with a fastener receiving opening 23, Fig. 5, which during the folding operation is brought into registration with a fastening receiving opening 24. Eastem. ing means 25, Fig. 2, pass through the aligned openings 23 and 24 to lock the parts in assembled relations whereby the one side, of the shield is formed, as clearly shown in 2; The oppo; site side of the blank 2, 5f, adaptedto be folded o boot so that fa ten ng. re e ing. ora m s 2t. 21.. and 2a m he. pa ts 1. In nd :2. spectively. ar brought. i to lignment nine eans. 29... Fig- 2., Pass. t roushtbe. o es. 21; and 28 when they re brou ht intoal gnment to lock the parts. together. The, portion. I ll lies between the. parts 1 84 d.- l 'l when the parts are folded or bent. to shape. latter folding arrangement the arcuate portion I4 of the part I2 into peripherals area-at registration with the opening L8; n thepart 1-1. The pa t of t e b ank: s a so res ded: wi h a ast ner c vi g: op -i s: iwhic a to b br u t in o res s ratiqow t .1 c in pins 3.1 the ar t V 3 such as r vetana s us the ali n d pen; ings or holes 39; and 3t talocktheparts to ether. F 2;

A reinforcing part. 33, Fig, 6;, which 13.3528, configuration substantially the, same. as: the, inside of the front end wall 3. is adapt-ed toibe arranged, against the inside of the front wall 3:so as to reinforce the device and to provide an, extra thickness of insulatingor heat resisting material. The reinforcing member 3'3' alsotends to hold the parts in assembled relationship so that they will assume their proper shape. The member 33 is provided with fastening receiving holes 34- through which the fastening means 22, 25', 32 and 2-9 pass, This reinforcing member 33 is also provided; with anarcuate cutqut. 3,5 which is adapted to cooperate with. the cutout Ht so as to leave an arcuate opening 35, 2, in the end wall 3 of the device.

The sprin clip. 31, Fig. 3. is. ad pted o. be arran ed. on the, inner face f h front; a l 3. and. comprises a pair of opp sitely disposed spring clip members 38, 33. These spring Qlips, 3,8 3.8. each have an arcuate body. portion 39;; a radius substantially the same as th but have their spring ends 4i); ten rig in. wardly of the opening a predetermined tance so. that. they-will-spring apart to permit shield or guard l to. be. slip ed over the ha die 4.! of a part; of a weldi g. dew-96 2 Th so he clips 33, 38 preferably have their ends, turnedoverasindicated at 4 3,;Eig, 3 clips 3} 3:18; r c e mad rom a s e r tes f. r and include an integral leg 44. Each leg 4.4 may be provided withan intermediate loop 45. and a n 0 1; 6;. th astening me ns 22 and 15:.

securing one clip 39 in position and the other fastening means 32 and 29 securing the other clip in position. The clips are spaced apart so as to be easily spread apart, but are made from resilient material so that they will first spring apart when being applied over the handle ll and then press inwardly to lock the device securely to the handle 41.

n. som onven l ap ratus. the guard maybe slipped over the handle instead of clamping it on. In cases where the device is to be slipped over the handle 4! of the welding apparatus, a clip construction 41, as shown in Fig. 7-; may be. employed.

The clip, 47 comprises a body '53 in the form of a flat circular ring. The ring 48 is made of resilient material. and has integral ears 49, Fig. 7., extending therefrom. The ears 49 are adapted to grip the handle 4!. The ring 48 of the securing member i? is provided with a plurality ifhol es 56. The holes 5 are adapted to be brought. into alignment so that the member l-T may he lacked to the guard i by the fasteners 2. 25;. 32. nd. .9.-

h d ce onsi t nrXiwh ii ee ard pr te or to. shie d the. hand the. o er tor o a wel in ac ine. T e device is p eferab y made om a bla k out f om a sin le he or mater l. and then configurated so as to be bent or foldedalo e rta n. l nes to r a auntlet, tyne. hie d or hand protector. One side r the protector x tends. down a dly arr d te m ned dista ce below.

' the o pos te ide-s as t r tor ha art oi he.

operators hand which is closest tov the work. More rar icuiariy. the e on ated si e s; d pted,

to cover the thumb of the operator, as the/ope erator uses his thumb to operate the. switch. or control of theweiding apparatus. The other side some a s rten dbut te ds a predeter hurled distance below the. outer side of the right hand. The iront of the device. is relatively traight nd, flares l-rwa d vand o w rd yom the fIQ lL end so; that the back ofthe. operators hand as l; is nge s a e ade tely pro: r ted e o er Per h ra g oi the-clevice is mooth an ra rm ng a Sub tantially reverse or ,Lhflsoidal curv from one side. of the open-Hi eornpletely-thereabouts tothe 019,-. pet t side I? t e T e de c may b readily assembled. can; be stamped or cut from sheets of. insu at ng heat r s in m i uch a, fiber. T e particular io m ti n f t edeviceis important in that it shields the th mb.

, of the operator, permitting a certain ameunt of ree movement W t ou su jectin t e ope ator hand t, the extreme heat. The lowersidewali 8. ot the device protects adequately the oppositeside. of the operators The top v 4 completely id the-orer t rs and t t 19 t reof a w T the bottom is. open, the hand is; still fully protected. Instead 05 making; the device. from a 4nd: l -ir 13 m y d v ed. The forming of the. device from a blank as herein described is preferable, however, in that it permits. the, device to. be manufactured; and. assembled at an, extremely low cost. The description and operation of devioerelatesto ashield hich-is adapte to be use by a right han edpe son; however, the devicemay be folded 0Q: posite manner so as to be worn easily. by a left handed operator.

op r t of a a hi e or de ic s ch as: a. welding machine generally wears gloves; but even so, t e h at ir m t e; l i g apparat s; s; s ot e' that in many instances the gloves of the operator become scorched. The specification refers to shielding the hand of the operator and the shield is so designed that the hand of the operator is protected whether or not he wears gloves.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make such changes as fall clearly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A hand shield adapted to be carried by a part of a welding apparatus comprising a body having an open back and bottom to permit free movement of the operators hand and wrist, with a relatively straight front portion, integral side walls and an integral top wall extending rearwardly and outwardly from said front portion, there being an opening in said front portion to permit the guard to be mounted on a handle of a welding apparatus, and fastening means adjacent said opening to secure the guard to an operating part of the welding apparatus.

2. A hand shield adapted to be carried by a part of a welding apparatus comprising a body having an open back and bottom to permit free movement of the operators hand and Wrist, with a relatively straight front portion, integral side walls and an integral top Wall extending rearwardly and outwardly from said front portion, there being an opening in said front portio to permit the guard to be mounted on a handle of a welding apparatus, and fastening means adjacent said opening to secure the guard to an operating part of the Welding apparatus, said fastening means comprising springy means secured to the front Wall and adapted to engage resiliently the said part of the apparatus to permit easy application and removal of the guard to and from the apparatus.

3. An open bottom shield to protect the hands of an operator of a welding apparatus, said shield being made from a single blank of material configurated to provide a plurality of integral but separable parts, said parts being adapted to be brought into contacting relationship, said parts after being brought into contacting relationship being locked together by securing means and forming an enclosure constituting a front Wall, an integral top and integral side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to receive the handle of a welding apparatus and fastening means secured to the shield to secure detachably said shield to said apparatus, said fastening means comprising a spring clip adjacent the opening in the shield to permit the shield to be connectedly detached.

4. A shield to protect the hands of an operator of a welding apparatus, said shield having an open back and bottom and being made from a single blank of insulating material configurated to provide a plurality of integral but separable parts, said parts being adapted to be brought into contacting relationship, said parts having holes therein which register in alignment when the parts are brought into contacting relationship, fastening means passing through aligned holes, said parts when secured together by said fastening means forming a shield having a front, a rearwardly extending top and side walls integral with the top and front, said front having an opening therein to permit the shield to be mounted on a part of a welding apparatus,

5. An open bottom shield to protect the hands of an operator of a welding apparatus, said shield being made from a single blank of material configurated to provide a plurality of integral but separable parts, said parts being adapted to be brought into contacting relationship, said parts having holes therein which register in alignment when the parts are brought into contacting relationship, fastening means passing through aligned holes, said parts when secured together by said fastening means forming a shield having a front, a reartvardly extending top and side walls integral with the top and front, said front hav ing an opening therein to permit the shield to be mounted on a part of a welding apparatus and fastening means on the shield adjacent said opening to permit the shield to be attached to and detached from the apparatus.

JOHN J. SANDRIK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,132,570 Leone Oct. 11, 1938 2,837,767 Paul Dec, 28, 1943 

